Yazdibandi: Its History and Form

In this paper yazdibandi, a type of ornamental vaulting, mostly known to be Qajarid, is investigated. Primarily, it is introduced on the basis of what two masters of Iranian traditional architecture, Ostad Asqar Sha’rbaf and Ostad Husayn Lurzadeh, have defined. Then according to the criteria they offer, the method to distinguish between yazdibandi and other types of Persian vaulting has been further discussed, along with terminology for its elements and parts. Literature of the subject is reviewed to show the state of this study among others. Afterwards, a historic search is carried out to find the origin of yazdibandi and, the first building or buildings made of this ornament, as well as the way it was invented and extended to other areas. It is the first time that such a study is done. The study has looked into numerous examples of yazdibandi and presents new findings. Considering construction, yazdibandi is closer to muqarnas, but its appearance is more like rasmibandi (revolved intersecting arches). Yet, unlike rasmibandi it is not statically self-standing, usually hanging from an upper structure or vault. The empty space between these two layers is usually deeper in muqarnas and smaller in the case of yazdibandi. In most of yazdibandies the lower surface would totally touch the upper supporting vault, conforming to its shape. These factors cause yazdibandi to have several constructional advantages. It would have a free plan layout, and since it is not structural and it depends on structures primarily erected, it is easier and faster to be built. It is also cheaper than both muqarnas and rasmibandi. Yazdibandi was quite common during the Qajar period, but according to the findings of this paper it was first designed in the Safavid period, more accurately during the reign of Shah Abbas. Earliest examples among the ones investigated in this paper could be the ones built in the entrance of Ganj’ali-Khan, Kerman bathhouse and inside the tomb of Sheikh Jebre’il, Ardabil. Of these two, the Kermani one is probably older. It was built in 1020 A.H. This paper also discusses the term “yazdibandi”. Yazd is a city in central Iran and yazdibandi could be translated roughly to “the vault from yazd city”. Rather surprisingly, it is very rare in Yazd for one to see any examples, but one can see many of them in Kashan, Qom, and Tehran, cities with major Qajar constructions. Therefore, it is natural to question the origin of the term. The name of the architect who built Ganj’ali-Khan bathhouse is Muhammad Soltani-ye Yazdi, and since his surname is Yazdi, he or his family probably were originally from Yazd. But the buildings we know he made are in Kerman, the name of the vault could point to his name. In this way, instead of saying “the vault from Yazd city”, yazdibandi should be translated to “the vault first designed by an architect named Yazdi”. This paper in the end gives criteria to categorize different types of yazdibandi. Many of the findings of the paper are based upon examples which are listed in the appendix. This list specially would be helpful for future studies.